LAHORE: The PMS Officers Association on Monday sought an unconditional apology from the Lahore High Court on behalf of the officers involved in anti-judiciary protests after a former civil judge in Sahiwal (Sargodha district) got a former assistant commissioner (AC) handcuffed for defying an order.

Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan put off the application of the association till April 13 and also sought a written apology from the AC.

Sahiwal’s former civil judge Muhammad Naeem had summoned the then AC Muhammad Haider in a case against encroachments in the city. The officer failed to appear before the court despite several notices and the judge finally issued warrants for his arrest. The AC, reportedly, got into a heated argument with the judge when he appeared in the court. The judge ordered his staff to detain Haider and handcuff him before shifting him to jail.

However, some lawyers intervened and Haider tendered an apology before the court after which he was released. Later, administrative and revenue staff in different parts of the province went on strike against the treatment meted out to the AC. They also held protests against the judiciary.

Later, a lawyer filed a petition before the LHC seeking action against the government officials for holding protests against the judiciary. The chief justice had ordered the Federal Investigation Agency to identify the officers involved in the protests and take action against them.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2021